Extra Credit for MKT 337 and MKT 320F
Marketing Department Subject Pool:
Sign-up online at: http://mccombs.sona-systems.com/
Studies end by Wednesday, November 27th, 2013
Marketing data and theories depend upon the research methods used to obtain them. Thus, an
exposure to research and research methods is an experience that is valuable to understanding
marketing and consumer behavior. At the University of Texas at Austin, the Marketing
Department offers each student enrolled in MKT 337 and MKT 320F extra credit for a chance to
gain some familiarity with the goals, methods, and results of marketing research.
There are two options for earning extra credit through the Marketing Department Subject
Pool:
(1) the Experiment option OR (2) the Research Paper option.
The maximum extra credit that can be earned using either option is 2* extra credit points. You
may select either the experiment option OR the research paper option.
(1) Experiment Option
Students can participate in up to 2 ** different experiments during the semester for extra credit.
Each experiment lasts less than 50 minutes and provides students with 1 extra credit hour. Each
extra credit hour is worth 1 extra credit point. Thus, to earn the maximum amount of extra credit
per semester, students must participate in 2 different experiments.
STUDENTS MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SAME EXPERIMENT TWICE.
Experiments will be identified by number (e.g., Study #1, Study #2, etc).
You may sign-up online at http://mccombs.sona-systems.com
To participate in study, students should sign up for a time slot at mccombs.sona-systems.com
(Note: there is no www in front of this address). The link can be found on the Marketing
Department website as well.
Studies take place throughout the semester. New sign-ups are posted every few weeks; check the
web frequently for new postings. Some postings will also be announced in class. The last study
will end November 27th at the latest, so plan ahead!
Studies may take place in the Behavioral Lab (CBA 6.402 and CBA 6.499) or in other classrooms
in the CBA, GSB, or UTC, so students should read the sign-up sheets to note the location of their
study. It is the student’s responsibility to participate during the time for which they have signed
up. Two “no-shows” will prevent you from participating in further studies (please see FAQ’s
below). Please note that STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE STUDY
IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN. No late arrivals can be accepted.
To ensure you receive your extra credit, make sure you follow the instructions listed below in the
first question of the FAQ section.
Experiment Option FAQ:
• How will my instructor know I participated?
A list of students who participated in extra credit experiments will be given to the MKT 337 and
MKT 320F instructors at the end of the semester. To ensure that your professor will receive
notification of your participation, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do the following:
1. When creating your profile on Sona Systems, make sure to select the correct course
you are enrolled in. Selecting the wrong course will result in the wrong professor
getting notice of your participation.
2. Write your name clearly and specify the correct course when you fill out the
participation form given to you on the day of the study.
3. Check Sona Systems a week after taking part in the study to confirm that your
participation has been recorded. If it has not, notify the Subject Pool Coordinator
(contact information below).
• What happens if I sign up for a study but do not show up for it?
If you cannot make it to a study, take your name off the list on Sona Systems at least 24 hours
before the study. If you do not, it will be counted as a “no show”. After two no shows, you will be
barred from participating in any other studies.
• What if I am late for a study?
Even if you are only one minute late, you will not be allowed to participate in the study.
Participants should arrive at least five minutes before the study begins to ensure participation. If
you do not know where the behavioral lab is, give yourself a few extra minutes to find it.
• How many experiments can I participate in?
It depends. Some instructors only allow you to do 2 studies, but others allow up to 4. Check your
course syllabus for full information. However, you may NEVER participate in the same study
twice.
• How much extra credit do I get for each experiment?
This also depends. Doing 1 study will give you 1 unit of extra credit. However, in some classes
this 1 unit translates into 5 extra credit points, but it depends on your instructor. Check with your
course syllabus for full information.
• Where do I sign up for experiments? http://mccombs.sona-systems.com
• Who do I contact with questions?
Email the Marketing Department Subject Pool Coordinator, Sean Jang, at
hyunkyu.jang@phd.mccombs.utexas.edu
(2) Research Paper Option
Another way to become familiar with marketing research is by doing some independent reading
and writing a paper. The purpose of the reading is to acquaint the student with original research as
it appears in written form. By completing the paper, you will have the opportunity to learn and
write about how marketing researchers present hypothesis, methods, and results.
Students may receive between 0 and 2 (or 4, depending on the maximum amount of extra credit
being offered by your course) extra credit points for the Research Paper Option. When a student
receives less than 2 extra credit points, s/he will have the opportunity to revise the paper or write
a new paper for additional points.
If you choose this option, you must first select a topic from the area of marketing that you would
like to examine. Next, you need to find articles from marketing journals. The paper must have at
least 2 academic citations, and one of them should be from the top four marketing journals
(Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, Journal of Consumer
Research). An easy way to locate articles is to use Business Source Complete (an on-line article
database available through the library website). Articles from magazines such as Fortune,
Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, etc., are not acceptable. Your references MUST come
from academic journals.
Finally, you must write a paper based on your readings. At a minimum, you should summarize
the work you have read. You can present the material as a simple summary, or you could
compare or contrast the hypotheses, methodological procedures, statistical procedures, or results.
The following rules apply to each paper submitted to satisfy the requirement:
1. Typewritten, double-spaced (12 pt. font, 1 in. margins), and the body of the paper must be at
least 10 pages in length (not to exceed 20 pages).
2. Use APA style
3. Attach a reference list.
4. Attach a cover sheet with your name, UT EID, unique number, and the semester and year.
5. It must be your own work! Do not copy articles. Discuss them in your own words. University
policies on scholastic dishonesty still apply.
6. It is due in the main marketing office (CBA 7th floor, c/o Sean Jang) on or before
November 27th (by 5 p.m.).
If you have any questions or concerns about the research paper option, email the Marketing
Department Subject Pool Coordinator, Sean Jang, at hyunkyu.jang@phd.mccombs.utexas.edu
* Consult your course syllabus to check if you can earn more than 2 extra credit points. Some instructors will allow
you to participate in up to 4 different studies. In this case, for example, to earn the maximum amount of extra credit,
you would have to participate in 4 different studies.
** Consult your course syllabus to check if you can participate in more than 2 studies. In any case, however, you are
not allowed to participate in the same study twice.